Obituary of James E Mazo

James E. Mazo, 1937-2013 Dr. James Emery Mazo Jr., a world-renowned information theorist, passed away on September 27, 2013 at the age of 76 following a brief illness at Morristown Medical Hospital in Morristown, New Jersey. He was born on January 15, 1937 in Morristown, New Jersey an only child to Hungarian immigrants, the late James Emery and Mary Lenner Mazo. He received a BS from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1958, an MS and PhD from Syracuse University. He served as a Research Associate at the University of Indiana before joining Bell Laboratories in 1964 where he worked for 37 years, heading one of the most successful and pioneering research groups in information theory, the acclaimed ‘Mathematics of Communications Research Department’ at Bell Laboratories from 1993 until his retirement in 2001. His wise and gentle leadership impacted not only basic theoretical developments in information theory, but also had a practical impact. One of his far-reaching, worldwide contributions addressed the design of modems for a PCM transmissions environment which evolved to what became known as the now classic 56K modem technology, along with notable contributions within the fields of magnetic-recording as well as holographic imagining and optical communications, and other significant and influential scientific contributions which now comprise the central components of state of the art, as well as future communication systems. He was a Life Fellow of IEEE. He was a man that was gentle and wise, having nothing to do with praise or gratitude – passionate about talent, his work and colleagues and providing for his family that he loved so very much. Jim is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Eleanor (Ellie); his two children, son Dr. James E. Mazo III of Middlefield, CT and daughter, Jennifer Stilwell of Greenville, SC; along with his two cherished grandsons Austin and Emery Mazo. Jim equally loved his daughter in-law Paula Mazo and son-in-law Ronald Stilwell as his own. Visitation will be from 9-10am with funeral services held at 10:00am on Wednesday, October 2, 2013 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 111 Claremont Road, Bernardsville, New Jersey, with Monsignor John Fell officiating. Burial will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery located at 145 Mount Airy Road, Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Friends and family may gather with the family following the burial at the family’s home in Bedminster. The Mazo family would like to extend our gratitude to the staff of Morristown Medical Surgical and ICU teams, and especially to those in Atlantic Hospice for their compassionate and loving care. For more information please contact the Funeral Home at 908-766-0250 or to light an online condolence candle visit our website www.gcfuneralhome.com Daddy, we will always carry your memory in our hearts. May you rest in peace.